Steve's Progress

Hey everyone! Here’s a detailed look at what I’ve been working on with Steve, the robotic spider, over the past few weeks as we gear up for the final demo next week.

I started with some troubleshooting motors, six servo motors had bad connections or lost traction, which was causing trouble with Steve’s movements. I spent time testing and replacing about half of the motors, plus double-checking wiring and solder joints. It was a bit frustrating but essential to get Steve stable and responsive again. This went on into week two and I focused on getting materials and supply this week.

The hardware began to be more reliable and during this I focused on the software side. I adjusted walking sequences, carefully tweaking servo timings and angles to improve his balance and walking process. It’s been a slow process and I've had many issues, some legs still drag or don’t move quite right but step by step, the coordination is improving. Lots of trial and error, but progress is happening. I also began to focus more on his kinematics and how that could play a role into having more realistic movements. I also spent time in the lab as pieces began breaking and needed to go in and have more backups should this happen again.

This week, I focused on bringing Steve to life in a more expressive way. I began scripting simple lines for him to say during the final demo giving him a playful personality to match his robotic charm. These lines will be delivered through a speaker that I’ll be integrating soon.

While working on his movement, I noticed something new: Steve’s weight seems to have shifted. Whether it’s the accumulation of wiring, extra reinforcement, or changes in the servo mount points, he’s having a harder time holding himself fully upright. I'm currently trying to work on that and in the video you see, he struggles to hold himself up during a wave sequence.

This week will be all about pulling everything together from walking, dancing, and Steve’s voice to get him ready for the final showcase.

I'll be finalizing his voice lines and syncing them with his movements so that Steve doesn’t just move, he performs. His dialogue will add personality and humor, giving him the vibe of a slightly overworked but very determined spider-bot.

From his weight gain I’ll be continuing to work around it or find a way to stabilize him. With all the hardware additions, Steve’s having a harder time lifting himself fully off the ground. Some servos are straining more than expected, so I’ll be adjusting his gait and simplifying some transitions to make sure his movements stay clean without overloading the motors.

The dance routine will also come together this week. Rather than aiming for complex choreography, I’ll be focusing on short, expressive bursts — leg taps and subtle gestures that highlight Steve’s personality. Combined with his voice, these movements should help him connect with the audience and leave a strong final impression, even if he’s not doing a full-on spider moonwalk.